Power conductor takeup system

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an improved system for providing power to the extremities of telescopable or expandable equipment comprising a fixed member and a movable member. A pulley system, independently movable with respect to the fixed and movable members, is rotatably transversed by a substantially lineal flexible power conductor. This power conductor is attached at one of its ends to a power source on the fixed portion of the equipment and at its other end to a power utilizing means on the movable portion of the equipment. Means are provided to move the pulley system in relation to the movement of the movable member so that the power conductor is held in a substantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of the movable portion of the equipment.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Charles J. Arndt Marion, Ohio [21]Appl. No. 23,706 [22] Filed Mar. 30, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971[73] Assignee Harsco Corporation Camp Hill, Pa. Continuation-impart ofappliwtion Ser. No. 858,298, Sept. 16, 1969, now abandoned.

[54] POWER CONDUCTOR TAKEUP SYSTEM 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 198/139 [51] B65g 15/26 [50] Field of Search 198/89,l39;212/5S; 187/9; 191/12C, 12 R [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,305,220 2/1967 Nevulis 212/55 X 1,249,239 12/1917 Suffolk198/89 X 3,402,805 9/1968 Spellman 198/139 FOREIGN PATENTS 309,87112/1918 Germany 191/12R Primary 'ExaminerEdward A. SrokaAttorneys-Ronald 1... Engel, Daniel W. Vittum, lr., Gomer W. Walters andJohn A. Waters ABSTRACT: This invention relates to an improved systemfor providing power to the extremities of telescopable or ex pandableequipment comprising a fixed member and a movable member. A pulleysystem, independently movable with respect to the fixed and movablemembers, is rotatably transversed by a substantially lineal flexiblepower conductor. This power conductor is attached at one of its ends toa power source on the fixed portion of the equipment and at its otherend to a power utilizing means on the movable portion of the equipment.Means are provided to move the pulley system in relation to the movementof the movable member so that the power conductor is held in asubstantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of themovable portion of the equipment.

PATENTEDnm 19 IHYI 3,613,866

I/Vl/E/VTOR CHARLES .1. ARA/07' POWER CONDUCTOR TAKEUP SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE This application is a continuation-in-part of applicantscopending Ser. No. 858,298 application, filed Sept. 16, 1969, nowabandoned for APPARATUS FOR PLACING CONCRETE MIX OR THE LIKE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to an improved system for providing power to movable portions ofexpandable or telescopable equipment. More specifically, it relates to asystem which requires a minimum length of power conductor and eliminatesthe necessity for expensive and unreliable slidable or rotatablefittings.

2. Description of the Prior Art Movable or telescopable conveyor systemshave been found to be extremely useful in the various operationsinvolving the short-range movement of various materials such as grains,coal, gravel, and concrete mix. For example, conveyor belt systems forthe conveyance of concrete mix are illustrated in Oury, et al., U.S.Pat. No. Re-26,298, reissued Nov.-21, 1967; Oury, U.S. Pat. No.Re-26,347, reissued Feb. 20, 1968; Oury, et al., U.S.. Pat. No.3,343,651, issued Sept. 26, 1967; and in the Ser. No. 858,298application of which this application is a continuation-in-part. Asillustrated therein, a series of conveyor belt units can be combined toconvey concrete mix to a particular area at the construction site wherethe mix is to be placed. Since it is more economical and expeditious toplace as much concrete mix as possible before the conveyor system ismoved, all of the above-references illustrate a movable or telescopabledischarge conveyor at the end of the conveyor system to allow a greaterarea of coverage by the'discharge conveyor.

In all of the above-illustrated conveyor systems, each individualconveyor apparatus is a self-contained unit. Consequently, each conveyorapparatus has a self-contained drive unit to propel the conveyor belt.Various types of drive units can be utilized including electric motors,hydraulic motors, or gasoline engines. However, because of thestart-and-stop nature of the concrete pouring operation in construction,electric or hydraulic motors have been found to provide the greatestease of operation.

Typically, at a construction site, power is provided by a gasolineengine driven electrical generator or hydraulic compressor. In eithercase, it is reasonably simple to extend either an electrical cable or ahydraulic hose along the stationary portions of the conveyor system toprovide power to the individual conveyor drive units. However, problemshave been experienced in providing power to the power drive unitcontained on the final movable or telescopable discharge conveyor. Ifthe electrical cable or hydraulic hose is long enough to provide powerat the furthest extension of the telescopable conveyor apparatus, thecable or hose will have many feet of slack when the discharge conveyoris in its fully retracted position. Allowing the cable or hose to remainin a slack condition is extremely dangerous since workmen may becomeentangled or it may be severed or become tangled by other equipmentbeing utilized at the construction site. One method of solving thisproblem is to provide a spring-loaded spool or reel arrangement whichallows the feed out of the cable to the discharge conveyor as it ismoved. However, such reel arrangements have not proved satisfactorysince they require extremely expensive and unreliable slidable orrotatable fittings to provide power to the hose or cable on the reel asthe reel is rotated.

Thus, it is the principal object of the present invention to providesimple and reliable power conductor take up system which allows power tobe conducted to the extremities of expandable or telescopable equipmentwithout limiting the range of motion of said equipment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedpower conductor takeup system which eliminates dangerous slack in thepower conductor without the need for expensive or unreliable takeupspools or reels and related fittings.

'A further object of the present invention is to provide a powerconductor takeup system which is simple, reliable, economical, andadaptable to use on a variety of telescopable or expandable pieces ofequipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects, advantages,and features of the subject invention may be achieved in expandable ortelescopable equipment comprising a relatively stationary first basemember with a power source thereupon and a second expandable ortelescopable member with a power utilization means attached theretoadapted to engage and move relative to the first base member. Animproved power conductor takeup system for such equipment comprises anindependently movable pulley system; a substantially lineal flexiblepower conductor attached at one of its ends to said power source and atits other end to the power utilization means and adapted to engage androtatably transverse the pulley system along its length; and a powerconductor take up means adapted to move the pulley system so that thepower conductor is held in a substantially taut condition throughout therange of movement of the second member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side fragmentary elevationalview of a cranemounted conveyor system with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention provided thereon.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the conveyor frame and the carriageand pulley system.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along Line 3- 3 of FIGURE2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With respect to thedrawings, FIGURE 1 shows a concrete placement apparatus 10 comprising abase 12, a supporting assembly 14, a telescoping conveyor assembly 16,and a fixed conveyor assembly 18. Supporting assembly 14 comprises fixedmember 15, and hydraulically expandable members 20 and 22 which can beextended to increase the length of supporting assembly 14.

The base 12 and support assembly 14 advantageously take the form of ahydraulic crane which is, per se, old in the art, and itself forms nopart of the present invention. Further, the fixed conveyor assembly 18and telescoping conveyor assembly 16 are disclosed and described incopending application, Ser. No., 858,298, filed Sept. 16, 1969, of whichthis application is a continuation-in-part. The details of theattachment and operation of the fixed conveyor assembly 118 and thetelescoping conveyor assembly 16 are described in detail in the parentapplication.

As disclosed in the parent application, extension of hydraulicallyexpandable members 20 and 22 of the supporting assembly 14 causes acorresponding telescopic movement of telescoping conveyor assembly 16with respect to fixed conveyor assembly 18. A power hook-up assembly 30is provided on the fixed conveyor assembly 18, and, depending on thetype of power being utilized, assembly 30 may take the form of anelectrical terminal box or a hydraulic junction box. Provided on thetelescoping conveyor assembly 16 is a power utilization means 32 which,again depending on the type of power utilized, may take the form ofeither an electric motor or a hydraulic motor. Attached at one of itsends to the power hookup assembly 30 and at its other end to the powerutilizing means 32 at point 33 is a substantially lineal flexible powerconductor 34. Depending'on the type to be conducted, power conductor 34may take the form of either an electrical cable or an hydraulic hose.The purpose of the power conductor 34 is to transmit power from thepower hookup assembly 30 to the power utilization means 32. The powerconductor 34 is looped around and in circumferential engagement with apulley system 36.

A takeup cable 38 is attached at one of its ends to the telescopingconveyor system 16 at point 40 and to the fixed conveyor assembly 18 atpoint 42. The takeup cable 38 is likewise looped around and incircumferential engagement with pulley system 36.

FIGURE 2 shows an end view of pulley system 36. Pulley system 36comprises circular end plates 44 and 46, and a circular divider plate48. Circular end plate 44 is separated from circular divider plate 48 bya cylindrical hub 50 to form a pulley groove 56. Circular end plate 44,hub 50, divider plate 48, cylindrical hub 52 and circular end plate areall bonded together to form a single integral pulley system 36. Powerconductor 34 engages and rides in pulley groove 54 and takeup cable 38engages and rides in pulley groove 56.

Pulley system 36 is pivotably mounted to a roller carriage assembly 58by means of an axle 60. Roller carriage assembly 58 comprises a plate 62to which axle 60 is attached. Also mounted to plate 62 are roller axles64, 65, and 66 to which rollers 68, 69 and 70 are respectively pivotablymounted.

Attached to one side of fixed conveyor assembly 18 is a channel member72 which may be the side channel of the conveyor. Channel member 72comprises a main plate 74, side channels 76 and 78, at each end andperpendicular to main plate 74, and channel flanges 80 and 82 extendingperpendicular from side channels 76 and 78, respectively toward oneanother (see FIG. 2). Each roller, 68, 69 and 70, has a roller groove 84which engages one of the channel flanges 80 and 82. Thus, rollercarriage assembly 58 can move in a substantially linear direction alongchannel member 72 as rollers 68, 69 and 70 roll in engagement withchannel flanges 80 and 82.

Operation of this particular embodiment of the power conductor takeupmeans of the present invention may be described with reference toFIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the solid lines depict supporting assembly 14 andtelescoping conveyor assembly 16 in a substantially extended conditionwith respect to fixed conveyor assembly 18. The broken lines in FIG. 1depict support assembly 14 in a raised position with respect to the base12 and show support assembly 14 and telescoping conveyor assembly 16 ina substantially retracted position with respect to fixed conveyorassembly.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, when telescoping conveyor assembly 16 is inits fully retracted position (as depicted by the broken lines), pulleysystem 36 and roller carriage assembly 58 are positioned at the end ofchannel 72 closest to power hookup assembly 30. The positioning ofroller carriage assembly 58 and pulley system 36 results from theinteraction of power conductor 34 and takeup cable 38 as furtherdescribed below.

As telescoping conveyor assembly 16 is extended outward from its fullyretracted position as a result of hydraulic extension of expandablemembers 20 and 22, force is exerted on takeup cable 38 at point 40wherein it is attached to telescoping conveyor assembly 16. This forcecauses tension in the takeup cable 38 which in turn causes force to beexerted against the circumference of pulley system 36. Since rollercarriage assembly 58 is freely movable along channel member 72, movementof point 40 on telescoping conveyor assembly 16 tends to cause amovement of pulley system 36 and roller carriage assembly 58 by anincrement of approximately onehalf the distance of the movement of point40. The one-half increment is in accordance with the principles ofpulley mechanics for a single pulley system, i.e., the center of thepulley moves linearly by an increment of one-half the angular distanceof travel of a point on the circumference all the pulley. Since point 33where power conductor 34 attaches to power utilizing means 32 is a pointon a substantially rigid member (i.e., telescoping conveyor assembly16), point 33 moves the same distance as point 40. Consequently, astakeup cable 38 moves pulley system 36 and roller carriage assembly 58along channel member 72, movement of point 33 will allow sufficientslack in power conductor 34 to prevent power conductor 34 from impedingthe movement of pulley system 36 and roller carriage assembly 58.However, since the diameter of pulley groove 54 and 56 are the same,substantially all of the slack generated by the movement of point 33 isimmediately taken up by the corresponding movement of the pulley system36 and roller carriage assembly, 58, and thus, power conductor 34 ismaintained in a substantially taut condition throughout the range ofmovement of telescoping conveyor assembly 16.

When telescoping conveyor assembly 16 is in its fully extended position(as depicted by solid lines in FIG. 1), the roller carriage assembly 58and pulley system 36 will have been moved to the end of channe member 72furthest from power hookup assembly 30 as a result of takeup cable 38being pulled through pulley system 36.

If telescoping conveyor 16 is retracted from its extended position,movement of point 33 creates a tension in power conductor 34 whichexerts corresponding force upon the circumference of pulley system 36.This force causes pulley system 36 and roller carriage assembly 58 toroll back along channel member 72. As when telescoping conveyor assembly16 was extended, movement of point 33 causes a corresponding equalmovement of point 40 which permits sufficient slack in takeup cable 38to allow free movement of roller carriage assembly 58. However, becausepoint 33 and point 40 move an equal distance, and because thecircumference of pulley groove 54 and 56 are the same, movement of thetelescoping conveyor assembly 16 causes power conductor 34 to movepulley system 36 and roller carriage assembly 58 so that takeup cable 38is held in a substantially taut condition throughout the range of motionof conveyor assembly 16.

Thus, the interaction of power conductor 34 and takeup cable 38 whentransversing pulley assembly 36 causes pulley assembly 36 and rollercarriage assembly 58 to move laterally along channel member 72proportionally as to the lateral movement of telescoping conveyorassembly 16 so that both power conductor 34 and takeup cable 38 are heldin a substantially taut condition throughout the range of motion oftelescoping conveyor system 16.

It should be expressly understood that because of the arrangement of theconveyors in this embodiment, utilization of a takeup cable 38 providesan economical and reliable means of positioning the pulley system 36 totakeup substantially all the slack in power conductor 34. However, atakeup cable is not the only means to perform this function. Forexample, a long helical spring could be utilized to spring bias and movepulley system 36 to hold power conductor 34 in a substantially tautcondition throughout the range of movement of the telescoping conveyorassembly 16 without departing from the concept of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus comprising a relatively stationary first base memberwith a power source provided in association therewith and a secondmember movable with respect thereto and having a power utilization meansprovided in association therewith, an improved power conductor systemadapted to conduct power from power source to said power utilizationmeans comprising:

a rotatable pulley adapted to move in substantially linear directionsubstantially parallel to the direction of movement of the secondmember;

substantially lineal flexible power conductor means engaging androtatably transversing the pulley, the power conductor means beingattached at one of its ends to the power source and at its other end tothe power utilization means; and

power conductor takeup means in engagement with the pulley adapted tomove the pulley so that the power conductor is held in a substantiallytaut condition throughout the range of movement of the second member.

2. An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the takeup means comprises a takeup cable attached at one end to thefirst member and at its other end to the second member and position soas to engage and rotatably transverse the pulley; and

the power conductor and the takeup cable are positioned to cooperatewith the pulley so that movement of the second member causes the pulleyto move in such a manner as to hold the power conductor means and thetakeup cable in a substantially taut condition throughout the range ofmovement of the second member.

3. An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe pulley is rotatably mounted on a carriage assembly which is mountedin engagement with the first member for translational movement withrespect thereto.

4. An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe first member comprises a flanged channel member and wherein thecarriage assembly has a plurality of rollers rotatably attached thereto,which rollers engage the flanged channel member and allow the carriageassembly to translate freely in engagement with the flanged channelmember.

5. An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe pulley comprises a pulley wheel having a pair of pulley groovesformed thereon, with the power conductor engaging a first one of thegrooves and the takeup cable engaging the other of the grooves.

6. In a telescopable belt conveyor system for conveying materialcomprising a first conveyor belt unit and a second conveyor belt unit,with the first and second conveyor belt units including a continuousconveyor belt loop, roller means for supporting the belt, a framesupporting the rollers, and power utilization means on the frame forcausing the belt to move across the rollers, the first and second unitsbeing mounted so that the second conveyor belt unit is telescopablymovable with respect to the first conveyor belt unit, and with the beltof the first conveyor belt unit being adapted to discharge its contentsonto the belt of the second conveyor belt unit, an improved powerconductor takeup system comprising:

a pulley movable in a substantially linear direction substantiallyparallel to the direction of movement of the second conveyor belt unit;

substantially flexible lineal power conductor means for conducting powerfrom a power source mounted on the first unit to the power utilizationmeans on the second unit;

the power conductor means being attached at one of its ends to the powersource and at its other end to the power utilization means and beingposition to engage and rotatably transverse the pulley; and

takeup means in engagement with the pulley operably responsive to themovement of the second conveyor belt unit to move the pulley so that thepower conductor means is held in a substantially taut conditionthroughout the range of movement of the second conveyor belt unit.

7. An improved power takeup system, as claimed in claim 6,

wherein:

the takeup means comprises a takeup cable attached at one end to thefirst conveyor belt unit and at its other end to the second unit andpositioned so that it engages and rotatably transverses the pulley; and

the power conductor and the takeup cable are positioned in cooperationwith the pulley so that movement of the second unit causes the pulley tomove in such a manner as to hold the power conductor means and thetakeup cable in a substantially taut condition throughout the range ofmovement of the second unit.

8. An improved power conductor takeup system, as claimed in claim 7,wherein the pulley is rotatably mounted on a carriage assembly which ismounted in engagement with the first unit for translational movementwith respect thereto.

9. An improved power conductor takeup system, as claimed in claim 8,wherein the first conveyor belt unit comprises a flanged channel memberand wherein the carriage assembly has a plurality of rollers rotatablyattached thereto, which rollers engage the flanged channel member andallow the carriage assembly to translate freely in engagement with theflanged channel member.

10. An improved power conductor takeup system, as claimed in claim 8,wherein the pulley comprises a pulley wheel having a pair of pulleygrooves formed thereon, with a first one of the pulley grooves beingengaged by the power conductor means and the other pulley groove beingengaged by the takeup cable.

1. In an apparatus comprising a relatively stationary first base memberwith a power source provided in association therewith and a secondmember movable with respect thereto and having a power utilization meansprovided in association therewith, an improved power conductor systemadapted to conduct power from power source to said power utilizationmeans comprising: a rotatable pulley adapted to move in substantiallylinear direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement ofthe second member; substantially lineal flexible power conductor meansengaging and rotatably transversing the pulley, the power conductormeans being attached at one of its ends to the power source and at itsother end to the power utilization means; and power conductor takeupmeans in engagement with the pulley adapted to move the pulley so thatthe power conductor is held in a substantially taut condition throughoutthe range of movement of the second member.
 2. An improved powerconductor system, as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the takeup meanscomprises a takeup cable attached at one end to the first member and atits other end to the second member and position so as to engage androtatably transverse the pulley; and the power conductor and the takeupcable are positioned to cooperate with the pulley so that movement ofthe second member causes the pulley to move in such a manner as to holdthe power conductor means and the takeup cable in a substantially tautcondition throughout the range of movement of the second member.
 3. Animproved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein thepulley is rotatably mounted on a carriage assembly which is mounted inengagement with the first member for translational movement with respectthereto.
 4. An improved power conductor system, as claimed in claim 3,wherein the first member comprises a flanged channel member and whereinthe carriage assembly has a plurality of rollers rotatably attachedthereto, which rollers engage the flanged channel member and allow thecarriage assembly to translate freely in engagement with the flangedchannel member.
 5. An improved power conductor system, as claimed inclaim 3, wherein the pulley comprises a pulley wheel having a pair ofpulley grooves formed thereon, with the power conductor engaging a firstone of the grooves and the takeup cable engaging the other of thegrooves.
 6. In a telescopable belt conveyor system for conveyingmaterial comprising a first conveyor belt unit and a second conveyorbelt unit, with the first and second conveyor belt units including acontinuous conveyor belt loop, roller means for supporting the belt, aframe supporting the rollers, and power utilization means on the framefor causing the belt to move across the rollers, the first and secondunits being mounted so that the second conveyor belt unit istelescopably movable with respect to the first conveyor belt unit, andwith the belt of the first conveyor belt unit being adapted to dischargeits contents onto the belt of the second conveyor belt unit, an improvedpower conductor takeup system comprising: a pulley movable in asubstantially linear direction substantially parallel to the directionof movement of the second conveyor belt unit; substantially flexiblelineal power conductor means for conducting power from a power sourcemounted on the first unit to the power utilization means on the secondunit; the power conductor means being attached at one of its ends to thepower source and at its other end to the power utilization means andbeing position to engage and rotatably transverse the pulley; and takeupmeans in engagement with the pulley operably responsive to the movementof the second conveyor belt unit to move the pulley so that The powerconductor means is held in a substantially taut condition throughout therange of movement of the second conveyor belt unit.
 7. An improved powertakeup system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the takeup meanscomprises a takeup cable attached at one end to the first conveyor beltunit and at its other end to the second unit and positioned so that itengages and rotatably transverses the pulley; and the power conductorand the takeup cable are positioned in cooperation with the pulley sothat movement of the second unit causes the pulley to move in such amanner as to hold the power conductor means and the takeup cable in asubstantially taut condition throughout the range of movement of thesecond unit.
 8. An improved power conductor takeup system, as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the pulley is rotatably mounted on a carriage assemblywhich is mounted in engagement with the first unit for translationalmovement with respect thereto.
 9. An improved power conductor takeupsystem, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first conveyor belt unitcomprises a flanged channel member and wherein the carriage assembly hasa plurality of rollers rotatably attached thereto, which rollers engagethe flanged channel member and allow the carriage assembly to translatefreely in engagement with the flanged channel member.
 10. An improvedpower conductor takeup system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pulleycomprises a pulley wheel having a pair of pulley grooves formed thereon,with a first one of the pulley grooves being engaged by the powerconductor means and the other pulley groove being engaged by the takeupcable.